@crollyson.bsky.social
2/4/41: Sid Shalit, NY Daily News on Rebecca, starring RC and Ida Lupino: “If radio had its equivalent of Academy Awards, it couldn’t do better than last night’s drama. It jammed suspense, skillful telescoping of plot situations and unbelievably good acting into a perfect hour.”
February 4, 2026 at 11:39 AM
2/4/41: Sid Shalit, NY Daily News on Rebecca, starring RC and Ida Lupino: “If radio had its equivalent of Academy Awards, it couldn’t do better than last night’s drama. It jammed suspense, skillful telescoping of plot situations and unbelievably good acting into a perfect hour.”
1/29/90: “…50 years since Ronald Colman…clapped his eyes on the Ojai Valley…Vista Point…trash can was overflowing and a power line obscured the view. But…easy to understand that Shangri-La is not so much one view as many.” “Shangri-La, The American Way” Newsday
January 29, 2026 at 10:42 AM
1/29/90: “…50 years since Ronald Colman…clapped his eyes on the Ojai Valley…Vista Point…trash can was overflowing and a power line obscured the view. But…easy to understand that Shangri-La is not so much one view as many.” “Shangri-La, The American Way” Newsday
the New York Times (January 18, 1935), Andre Sennwald concluded: “Ronald Colman, suppressing the debonair manner which has made him one of our finest light comedians, enacts the title rôle with vigor and conviction, providing a touching portrait of a man with a consuming passion for power.”
January 18, 2026 at 11:43 AM
the New York Times (January 18, 1935), Andre Sennwald concluded: “Ronald Colman, suppressing the debonair manner which has made him one of our finest light comedians, enacts the title rôle with vigor and conviction, providing a touching portrait of a man with a consuming passion for power.”
1/17/64: Nicholas arrives in great gush of water drenching Sylvia, Ted, midwife, doctor. She revises earlier depiction of herself as placidly cowlike: ” I am always so broody before a baby is born” She will always deserve another biography because of her polyvalent personality.
January 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM
1/17/64: Nicholas arrives in great gush of water drenching Sylvia, Ted, midwife, doctor. She revises earlier depiction of herself as placidly cowlike: ” I am always so broody before a baby is born” She will always deserve another biography because of her polyvalent personality.
Some of my audiobooks
January 15, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Some of my audiobooks
January 12, 1950: In the Oakland Tribune, John Crosby noted how deftly the Colmans had capitalized on their Jack Benny show appearances to become “one of America’s favorite radio couples.”
January 11, 2026 at 12:44 PM
January 12, 1950: In the Oakland Tribune, John Crosby noted how deftly the Colmans had capitalized on their Jack Benny show appearances to become “one of America’s favorite radio couples.”
The Halls of Ivy was called a “soap opera for people who think” (Los Angeles Times, January 9, 1950).
January 9, 2026 at 11:19 AM
The Halls of Ivy was called a “soap opera for people who think” (Los Angeles Times, January 9, 1950).
1/7/68: In “A Man Who Made a Million Laughs,” Ed Sheehan obit about Don Quinn, creator of Halls of Ivy. Sheehan mentions he made the Depression more livable writing for Jack Benny, Burns & Allen, Edgar Bergen. “Ronald Colman’s death…a severe blow to Don.” Honolulu Advertiser
January 7, 2026 at 11:17 AM
1/7/68: In “A Man Who Made a Million Laughs,” Ed Sheehan obit about Don Quinn, creator of Halls of Ivy. Sheehan mentions he made the Depression more livable writing for Jack Benny, Burns & Allen, Edgar Bergen. “Ronald Colman’s death…a severe blow to Don.” Honolulu Advertiser
January 6: Halls of Ivy debuts on NBC radio
January 6, 2026 at 10:47 AM
January 6: Halls of Ivy debuts on NBC radio
In Variety (December 31, 1937), a reviewer declared that Colman “has the ability to make a full dress court uniform appear as comfortable as a suit of pajamas.”
December 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
In Variety (December 31, 1937), a reviewer declared that Colman “has the ability to make a full dress court uniform appear as comfortable as a suit of pajamas.”
12/28/54: A wry RC said in the Los Angeles Mirror that a Halls of Ivy sponsor objected to 5 syllable words. It was not enough to have the Colmans, the show had to be a typical sitcom, as the couple learned when an executive kept coming to the set asking them to “goose it up.”
December 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
12/28/54: A wry RC said in the Los Angeles Mirror that a Halls of Ivy sponsor objected to 5 syllable words. It was not enough to have the Colmans, the show had to be a typical sitcom, as the couple learned when an executive kept coming to the set asking them to “goose it up.”
RC embodied Kipling’s Englishman. A 12/27/39 review of The Light That Failed calls Heldar “a typical Englishman of adventurous strain—complacent in his success but concentrated energy when he faces darkness, but withal calm when he makes his decision to die in battle to end it all.”
December 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
RC embodied Kipling’s Englishman. A 12/27/39 review of The Light That Failed calls Heldar “a typical Englishman of adventurous strain—complacent in his success but concentrated energy when he faces darkness, but withal calm when he makes his decision to die in battle to end it all.”
Inez Klumph, “The Film Flapper Says” (Racine Journal News, December 26): ‘Perhaps we’re ready for a new kind of idol. Ronald Colman will qualify . . . He makes love so convincingly in ‘The White Sister” that he leaves nothing lacking in that respect.”
December 26, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Inez Klumph, “The Film Flapper Says” (Racine Journal News, December 26): ‘Perhaps we’re ready for a new kind of idol. Ronald Colman will qualify . . . He makes love so convincingly in ‘The White Sister” that he leaves nothing lacking in that respect.”
12/25/46: “Perhaps my two favorite gifts were my new diary and box of 58 pastels.”
Turkish figs, $2.00 from Aunt Hazel, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Renascence and Other Poems from mother and Dancing Star: The Story of Anna Pavlova,” flowered stationery for thank you notes, big turkey dinner
Turkish figs, $2.00 from Aunt Hazel, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Renascence and Other Poems from mother and Dancing Star: The Story of Anna Pavlova,” flowered stationery for thank you notes, big turkey dinner
December 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
12/25/46: “Perhaps my two favorite gifts were my new diary and box of 58 pastels.”
Turkish figs, $2.00 from Aunt Hazel, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Renascence and Other Poems from mother and Dancing Star: The Story of Anna Pavlova,” flowered stationery for thank you notes, big turkey dinner
Turkish figs, $2.00 from Aunt Hazel, Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Renascence and Other Poems from mother and Dancing Star: The Story of Anna Pavlova,” flowered stationery for thank you notes, big turkey dinner
December 15, 1935: Release of A Tale of Two Cities.
December 15, 1945: Release of Random Harvest
www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colma...
December 15, 1945: Release of Random Harvest
www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colma...
December 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
December 15, 1935: Release of A Tale of Two Cities.
December 15, 1945: Release of Random Harvest
www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colma...
December 15, 1945: Release of Random Harvest
www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colma...
December 13, 1954: A Bob Thomas syndicated column put the question in a headline: “Can Gentle, Literate ‘Halls of Ivy” Succeed on Television?”
December 13, 2025 at 11:12 AM
December 13, 1954: A Bob Thomas syndicated column put the question in a headline: “Can Gentle, Literate ‘Halls of Ivy” Succeed on Television?”
December 9, 1945 First appearance with Benita Hume on Jack Benny’s NBC radio program is a comedic success. The couple signs for three appearance per season in 1946.
December 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
December 9, 1945 First appearance with Benita Hume on Jack Benny’s NBC radio program is a comedic success. The couple signs for three appearance per season in 1946.
12/5/32: Corbin Patrick (Indianapolis Star) lauded RC’s in Cynara as no camera “hog.” Kay Francis got her share of closeups even when it meant showing RC’s back to the audience: “This unselfishness…has made for a nicely balanced performance.” www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colma...
December 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
12/5/32: Corbin Patrick (Indianapolis Star) lauded RC’s in Cynara as no camera “hog.” Kay Francis got her share of closeups even when it meant showing RC’s back to the audience: “This unselfishness…has made for a nicely balanced performance.” www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colma...
Just passed the 100,000 word mark for Our Eve Arden. A few more chapters to write. I hope to have a draft by the end of January, perhaps sooner.
December 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Just passed the 100,000 word mark for Our Eve Arden. A few more chapters to write. I hope to have a draft by the end of January, perhaps sooner.
Coming soon: the audiobook
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Coming soon: the audiobook
11/23/53: In a Favorite Story adaptation of Terrence Rattigan’s play, The Browning Version, RC plays seemingly mean spirited schoolmaster, Crocker-Harris,” opposite a shrewish wife, Millie, performed with relish by Benita Hume introduced as not only RC’s wife but his “lady.”
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
11/23/53: In a Favorite Story adaptation of Terrence Rattigan’s play, The Browning Version, RC plays seemingly mean spirited schoolmaster, Crocker-Harris,” opposite a shrewish wife, Millie, performed with relish by Benita Hume introduced as not only RC’s wife but his “lady.”
11/21/37: Jack Benny spoofs Lost Horizon. Chang: “We will journey to…the paradise where all is serene.” JB: “Gosh.” Chang: “The Garden Spot of the universe.” JB: “If you're a real estate man, I'll scream.” He prefers a weekend getaway. Shangri-La is too far to travel even in his imagination.
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
11/21/37: Jack Benny spoofs Lost Horizon. Chang: “We will journey to…the paradise where all is serene.” JB: “Gosh.” Chang: “The Garden Spot of the universe.” JB: “If you're a real estate man, I'll scream.” He prefers a weekend getaway. Shangri-La is too far to travel even in his imagination.
all on sale: www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/T/The-...; just scroll down the page
November 18, 2025 at 10:44 AM
all on sale: www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/T/The-...; just scroll down the page
I hope you can enroll
November 12, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I hope you can enroll